HUNDREDS of people flooded to a rural church today to say goodbye to the leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council.

Family, work colleagues and friends paid their respects to veteran councillor Keith Reynolds – who had represented his community of Aberbargoed for almost four decades and served as Caerphilly council’s leader since 2014.

Shortly after announcing his intention to step down as the authority’s leader this May, Mr Reynolds died on April 10, aged 71, following a battle with terminal illness.

Around 350 people attended his funeral at St Sannan’s Church, in Bedwellty, which was filled with celebrations and memories of the politician’s life. Father Mark Owen led the service, noting Mr Reynold’s 48-year marriage to his wife Sheila, his career as a colliery blacksmith for more than 29 years, his time as a Community Health Council chief officer and his love for football.

He described the Labour leader as a “straight-talking” and “very principled man” with a “sharp sense of humour and wit”.

“He was a man who wanted to bring about change... and change for the better for the local people and his beloved village,” he said.

“To sum up Keith, if you can ever do that, I’m told council and community – the community of Aberbargoed has lost a good man. His shoes will be hard to fill.”

Crowds joined in with a recital of Calon Lan, before Mr Reynold’s son Anthony Reynolds shared family memories.

He thanked staff at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr Hospital and paramedics for caring for his father and “most importantly, the people of Aberbargoed” for electing him as their councillor.

“Aberbargoed has shown massive huge confidence in my dad... this really gave him the confidence to become the man he was.”

“Dad was very straightforward, spoke his mind, took a huge interest in people and was great company to be around.”

He added: “Dad was a very positive person and openly enjoyed a battle — especially if it was a different opinion to his.

“When he was given the cancer diagnosis he said he was going to fight it. Unfortunately, as you all know, it wasn’t a battle he could win.

“Dad you will be greatly missed but you will never be forgotten.”

Gerald Jones, MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, speaking at the service, credited Mr Reynolds’s “integrity” and described him as someone who “genuinely cared about the people he represented”.

“Keith really was the genuine article (and) spent his whole life in local government for the right reasons,” he said.

“He will be hugely missed by the community of Aberbargoed, by his Labour Party family and by many in local government too.”

Mr Reynold’s grandson Ben read out a poem at the service describing his grandfather as “loving”, “caring” and “one in a million”.

“Heaven has received another angel, the night sky another star. Your life has become a loving memory and I know you will never be far,” he said.

“I know you're watching over me, as my life goes on, I will treasure the memories I have with you, I can’t believe you’re gone.”

The service drew to a close with the hymn Love Divine before a private committal at Glyntaff Crematorium. Following the service, friends and family were invited to Llechwen Hall, in Pontypridd, for drinks and refreshments.

Donations, taken at the service, will also be given to the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust.